Destroyer sailors rescue mariner in Singapore Strait

Jan. 21, 2014 - 06:00AM
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Lt. j.g. Katherine Miyamasu, center, provides water to a rescued Filipino mariner after he went overboard in the Singapore Strait on Sunday. Miyamasu serves as boat officer for the destroyer Spruance, which responded to man-overboard call and launched its rigid-hull inflatable boat to make the rescue. (Navy)

Sailors from the destroyer Spruance pulled a Filipino mariner to safety Sunday in the Singapore Strait, the Navy said in a Monday news release.

Responding to a man-overboard call, the destroyer launched its rigid-hull inflatable boat to make the rescue, according to the release. The man was in stable condition and transferred to a Singaporean coast guard vessel.

Im very proud of my crew for their quick reaction and professionalism, Spruance commanding officer Cmdr. Dan Cobian said in the release. We consistently train for these situations in order to always be prepared to render assistance on the high seas.

Spruance is on its maiden deployment, which began in October when it left its home port of San Diego. It was commissioned in 2011. Cobian took command from Cmdr. George Kessler, who led the ship through the commissioning process, in December during a mid-deployment ceremony held on the flight deck.